Cristiano Ronaldo's recent proclamation that he is 'the best player ever' has led to several debates over his footballing ability. The Portuguese icon is football's greatest-ever goalscorer, and 450 of his club goals came during a historic nine-year spell at Real Madrid.
The peak of Ronaldo's greatness came while wearing Los Blancos colours, wreaking havoc in a formidable front three alongside Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale. His potent right foot, remarkable physique and incredible jumping and heading abilities made him an all-rounded forward that La Liga defenders feared.
Angel Di Maria disagreed with Ronaldo's stance on being 'the best and most complete', insisting that honour belonged to Lionel Messi. Another of the five-time Ballon d'Or winner's former Madrid teammates, Rafael van der Vaart, suggested that the Portugal captain didn't even possess the best technical ability at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Van der Vaart: I Was Technically Better Than Cristiano Ronaldo
Ex-Dutch midfielder spent a year with Real Madrid's all-time top scorer
Cristiano Ronaldo's goalscoring prowess came while playing in several Real Madrid teams, and they always possessed an exemplary playmaking midfielder pulling the strings. Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Xabi Alonso and Kaka fall into that category, four midfield and attacking maestros who pulled the strings with aplomb.
Van der Vaart was similarly a joy to watch with the ball at his feet, a classy passer and a versatile profile that made him a hit at the Bernabeu and Tottenham Hotspur. His final year in the capital of Spain came when Ronaldo had just arrived in a world-record £80 million deal from Manchester United.
The Dutchman, who retired in 2018, was asked by talkSPORT about his time at Madrid and the winning mentalities of his former teammates. He touched on Ronaldo, particularly his determination to win, but explained why he was technically more gifted:
"Of course, I have to mention Cristiano Ronaldo because I spent a year playing with him at Real Madrid. If you ask me who had the better technique, me or Ronaldo, I would say myself in terms of first touch and passing. But he was so fit and so focused on scoring goals and winning things. I just went on the pitch and when it was 3-3 or 4-4, I preferred that to a 1-0 win. His way of thinking is the biggest difference."
Van der Vaart's comments continue somewhat of a war of words between himself and Ronaldo that started in December 2024. He explained that the five-time UEFA Champions League winner was 'incredibly selfish' on the pitch. This didn't go down well with his ex-teammate, who responded on social media and asked, 'Who is that guy?'.
Van der Vaart made 21 appearances alongside Ronaldo in his final season at Madrid, bringing a Supercopa de Espana triumph. This was the only trophy the Dutchman won at the Bernabeu, and he had fallen down the pecking order when the Portuguese legend arrived.
Van Der Vaart's Tumultuous Summer Amid Ronaldo's Arrival
The Dutchman bumped heads with Manuel Pellegrini
Real Madrid rolled out the red carpet when unveiling Cristiano Ronaldo in the summer of 2009, which indicated just how 'Galactico' of a signing they'd pulled off. Clearly, the 2008 Ballon d'Or winner would be playing the lead role in a revolution at the Bernabeu.
However, amid the glamour surrounding Ronaldo's arrival, there was tension growing between Van der Vaart and then-Madrid boss Manuel Pellegrini. These issues were made clear in an interview with Dutch outlet AD (via Telegrafi):
"I have nothing more to say about Pellegrini. His position is clear. What more can I expect from him when I have already been on the bench during the pre-season preparations?"
|Rafael van der Vaart and Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid|
|Player|Rafael van der Vaart|Cristiano Ronaldo|
|Appearances|73|438|
|Goals|12|450|
|Assists|13|131|
|Yellow Cards|10|54|
|Red Cards|1|4|
|Achievements|Supercopa de Espana|Champions League 4x, FIFA Club World Cup 4x, La Liga 2x, Copa del Rey 2x, Supercopa de Espana 2x|
|---|
Ronaldo, 24 at the time, shined in his debut season at the Bernabeu, bagging 33 goals and 10 assists in 35 games across competitions. A 26-year-old Van der Vaart stayed put for that campaign and won back Pellegrini's trust, featuring 31 times across competitions with seven goals and as many assists.
The versatile midfielder, who won two Eredivisie titles with Ajax, bid farewell to Madrid the following summer when Tottenham came calling. He joined Spurs in an £8 million deal and became a fan favourite at White Hart Lane alongside Modric, who'd head to the Bernabeu in 2012.
All statistics courtesy ofTransfermakt- correct as of 04/03/2025.
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